General Garfield used to relate a story which gave rather a comical turn to the general's undemonstrative style, and one which I do not remember to have ever seen in print. In fact, it has been a somewhat doubtful question with me as to whether I should be justified in relating it, and only do so with the warning, "_Honi soit qui mal y pense_." When General Thomas relieved Rosecrans at Chattanooga in 1863, General Garfield remained with him for a time as chief of staff. One morning the two officers were riding around the town, examining the defenses which were then being built, when they heard some one hailing with the cry, "Hello, mister! you! I want to speak with you." On looking around, General Thomas discovered that he was the "mister" wanted, and that the person who had hailed him was one of those East Tennessee soldiers who were always easily distinguishable from the Northern soldiers by their peculiar rough, uncouth, and backwoods appearance. He stopped, and the man approached him and began, "Mister, I want to get a furlough." "On what grounds do you want a furlough, my man?" asked the general. "I want to go home and see my wife," replied the East Tennesseean. "How long since you saw your wife?" asked the general. "Ever since I enlisted--nigh on to three months." "Three months!" exclaimed the general, good-naturedly. "Why, my good man, I haven't seen my wife for three years." The East Tennesseean stopped whittling the stick which he had in his hand, and stared for a moment incredulously at the general. "Wall, you see," he said at length, with a sheepish smile, "me and my wife ain't that kind." Shaking all over with laughter, the general put spurs to his horse and galloped away, leaving the astonished soldier unanswered.